Creating the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument

January 4, 2013 3:54 PM

Photo: Johnny Hanson/Staff

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Lonnie Dunkin assembles the larger than life foam milled cutout of a soldier that was created from a scaled down version of sculptor Duke Sundt's Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop. The foam cutouts will be used to help make the mold for the casting. In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds. The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action. ( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Lonnie Dunkin assembles the larger than life foam milled cutout of a soldier that was created from a scaled down version of sculptor Duke Sundt's Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart ... more

Sculptor Duke Sundt, left, and Vietnam veterans, Don Dorsey, 66, center, who was a Marine scout sniper and Richard McBride, 67, a former infantryman in the U.S. Army, look at the maquette of the future Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Sculptor Duke Sundt, left, and Vietnam veterans, Don Dorsey, 66, center, who was a Marine scout sniper and Richard McBride, 67, a former infantryman in the U.S. Army, look at the maquette of the future Texas ... more

Sculptor Duke Sundt stands next to the maquette of the future Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument with the full-scale foam milled cutouts of the monument behind him at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Sculptor Duke Sundt stands next to the maquette of the future Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument with the full-scale foam milled cutouts of the monument behind him at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Sculptor Duke Sundt stands next to the maquette of the future Texas... Photo-3984733.54702 - Houston Chronicle

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Vietnam veterans, James Hart, 63, left, and Don Dorsey, 66, right stand next to foam cutouts they modeled for sculptor Duke Sundt to get the positioning and stance for the future Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
The foam cutouts will be used to help make the mold for the casting.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Vietnam veterans, James Hart, 63, left, and Don Dorsey, 66, right stand next to foam cutouts they modeled for sculptor Duke Sundt to get the positioning and stance for the future Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans ... more

Vietnam veteran and chairman for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument looks at a panel sculpted in clay by sculptor Duke Sundt that will be part of the base of the monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Vietnam veteran and chairman for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument looks at a panel sculpted in clay by sculptor Duke Sundt that will be part of the base of the monument at the Deep in the Heart Art ... more

Sculptor Duke Sundt shows what will be part of the base of the that will be part of the base of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Sculptor Duke Sundt shows what will be part of the base of the that will be part of the base of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Sculptor Duke Sundt shows what will be part of the base of the that... Photo-3984730.54702 - Houston Chronicle

Image 7 of 15

Lonnie Dunkin assembles the larger than life foam milled cutouts of soldiers that were created from a scaled down version of sculptor Duke Sundt's Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
The foam cutouts will be used to help make the mold for the casting.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Lonnie Dunkin assembles the larger than life foam milled cutouts of soldiers that were created from a scaled down version of sculptor Duke Sundt's Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the ... more

Miniature sculpted pieces made by sculptor Duke Sundt are used to detail the stands next to the 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Miniature sculpted pieces made by sculptor Duke Sundt are used to detail the stands next to the 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry ... more

James Hart, left, and Don Dorsey posed for sculptor Duke Sundt to establish the positioning and stance of figures on the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument. Hart, 63, and Dorsey, 66, both served in the war. less

James Hart, left, and Don Dorsey posed for sculptor Duke Sundt to establish the positioning and stance of figures on the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument. Hart, 63, and Dorsey, 66, both served in the ... more

Terry B. Burkett, left, executive committee member of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument; John A. Miterko, center, legislative liaison of the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations; and State Rep. Wayne Smith, right, co-sponsor of a bill to include a Vietnam veterans monument at the state capitol, show a scale model of the monument at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Dan Wallach/The Enterprise less

Terry B. Burkett, left, executive committee member of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument; John A. Miterko, center, legislative liaison of the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations; and State Rep. ... more

Miniature sculpted pieces made by sculptor Duke Sundt are used to detail the stands next to the 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Miniature sculpted pieces made by sculptor Duke Sundt are used to detail the stands next to the 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry ... more

Vietnam veteran and chairman for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument looks at a panel sculpted in clay by sculptor Duke Sundt that will be part of the base of the monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Vietnam veteran and chairman for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument looks at a panel sculpted in clay by sculptor Duke Sundt that will be part of the base of the monument at the Deep in the Heart Art ... more

Sculptor Duke Sundt shows what will be part of the base of the that will be part of the base of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Sculptor Duke Sundt shows what will be part of the base of the that will be part of the base of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Staff

Sculptor Duke Sundt shows what will be part of the base of the that... Photo-3717177.54702 - Houston Chronicle

Image 14 of 15

Sculptor Duke Sundt, left, and Vietnam veterans, Don Dorsey, 66, center, who was a Marine scout sniper and Richard McBride, 67, a former infantryman in the U.S. Army, look at the maquette of the future Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Bastrop.
In May 2005, Senator Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Wayne Smith sponsored a resolution authorizing the Vietnam War monument on the Texas Capitol grounds.
The 14-foot high 2.5 ton bronze sculpture will stand as a permanent reminder of the 3,400 Texans that died while serving in Vietnam as well as the 107 Texas men who went missing in action.
( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less

Sculptor Duke Sundt, left, and Vietnam veterans, Don Dorsey, 66, center, who was a Marine scout sniper and Richard McBride, 67, a former infantryman in the U.S. Army, look at the maquette of the future Texas ... more